House Insurance

[robell]

For the past few years we've been insured with Marks & spencer for our home insurance as they provide cover for up to 90 days away frm the home. They've now decided not to do this any more and we are struggling to find another insurer even though we're not looking for anything special apart from the 90 days. Who do you use for these long trips abroad? Any ideas please?

 

[Drover]

We use tesco.though don't have contents cover. Our daughter goes there every week or so just because we have a hot tub.so I guess it covers their clause.
(well Its what they said) for this....

Not lived in or not intended to be lived in for more than 60 days in a row.

So the house is intended to be lived in .
Policy is just over £100 per year.

 

[trevskoda]

We use tesco.though don't have contents cover. Our daughter goes there every week or so just because we have a hot tub.so I guess it covers their clause.
(well Its what they said) for this....

Not lived in or not intended to be lived in for more than 60 days in a row.

So the house is intended to be lived in .
Policy is just over £100 per year.

I pay almost £400 a year for home ins.

 

[Budgie]

We use tesco.though don't have contents cover. Our daughter goes there every week or so just because we have a hot tub.so I guess it covers their clause.
(well Its what they said) for this....

Not lived in or not intended to be lived in for more than 60 days in a row.

So the house is intended to be lived in .
Policy is just over £100 per year.

Just got a quote buildings only £896 current insurance £275 so not for us thanks anyway

 

[Drover]

Just got a quote buildings only £896 current insurance £275 so not for us thanks anyway

Wow. What did you put as the rebuild price?

Though I guess a mansion in Mafair would be a bit on the high side

 

[Budgie]

Just a semi in the lakes, I've found quotes vary wildly so have to troll through loads each year.

 

[jacquigem]

Also important to check the terms and conditions . Look for any endorsements or warranties that require complying with.

 

[marchie]

We use tesco.though don't have contents cover. Our daughter goes there every week or so just because we have a hot tub.so I guess it covers their clause.
(well Its what they said) for this....

Not lived in or not intended to be lived in for more than 60 days in a row.

So the house is intended to be lived in .
Policy is just over £100 per year.

Check the small print - especially for 'branded' policies that are underwritten or provided on behalf of the supermarkets, retail stores et al, because an awful lot are underwritten by Aviva. The Unoccupancy Cover clause will have wording such as 'a regular visit by someone who is not ordinarily resident at the property, even if they sleep over, is not enough to establish occupancy. The policyholder must be able to provide evidence of normal living/occupation, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and related activities for occupancy to be established'

Steve

 

[trixie88]

Check the small print - especially for 'branded' policies that are underwritten or provided on behalf of the supermarkets, retail stores et al, because an awful lot are underwritten by Aviva. The Unoccupancy Cover clause will have wording such as 'a regular visit by someone who is not ordinarily resident at the property, even if they sleep over, is not enough to establish occupancy. The policyholder must be able to provide evidence of normal living/occupation, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and related activities for occupancy to be established'

Steve

EXCELLENT ADVICE........you only find out how good/bad insurance company is when having to make a claim....
..especially a big claim....IT CAN BE A NIGHTMARE......be very aware......

 

[Boris7]

EXCELLENT ADVICE........you only find out how good/bad insurance company is when having to make a claim....
..especially a big claim....IT CAN BE A NIGHTMARE......be very aware......

Now there speaks the truth.

Painful experience.

 

[colinm]

Check the small print - especially for 'branded' policies that are underwritten or provided on behalf of the supermarkets, retail stores et al, because an awful lot are underwritten by Aviva. The Unoccupancy Cover clause will have wording such as 'a regular visit by someone who is not ordinarily resident at the property, even if they sleep over, is not enough to establish occupancy. The policyholder must be able to provide evidence of normal living/occupation, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and related activities for occupancy to be established'

Steve

Aviva have taken over the company who insure one of our properties, very long story short, we have had to move to another company as they will no longer cover for open fireplace, this was buried in the 'small print', and was not mentioned in 'changes to your policy' notes that came with the renewal.

 

[Jo001]

The policyholder must be able to provide evidence of normal living/occupation, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and related activities for occupancy to be established'

Is "my stepson came and stayed, and the house was cleaner when I got home than when I left" enough? In our case, it could even be true. He's immaculate.

 

[Drover]

Check the small print - especially for 'branded' policies that are underwritten or provided on behalf of the supermarkets, retail stores et al, because an awful lot are underwritten by Aviva. The Unoccupancy Cover clause will have wording such as 'a regular visit by someone who is not ordinarily resident at the property, even if they sleep over, is not enough to establish occupancy. The policyholder must be able to provide evidence of normal living/occupation, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and related activities for occupancy to be established'

Steve

This is the exemption clause from tesco in their small print.

Not lived in or not intended to be lived in for more than 60 days in a row.

 

[trevskoda]

I have been with home protect, 2 years back when back garden river wall went down the said we dont cover boundry walls, by by.
Policy also loaded because of trees within 50ft of house, do read or ask to see small print.

 

[marchie]

This is the exemption clause from tesco in their small print.

I think you need to look at your policy wording again - the full text, from Tesco website FAQs is:

'Your Home Insurance cover is affected if your property is unoccupied or unfurnished for 60 days or more in a row. You must tell us right away if your home is or will become unoccupied or unfurnished, particularly if you plan to leave your home to allow building works to be completed. Visits to check on your home do not count as it being occupied. Exclusions and limitations apply. For full details, see your Policy Booklet.'

Much the same as I said in my reply to your original post ... The wording, especially the final sentence re Home Visits, could not be more explicit; but it's not my buildings and contents that are at risk ...

Steve

 

[trixie88]

Now there speaks the truth.

Painful experience.

painful,,,painful//////// NIGHTMARE and more besides.....

 

[TJBi]

I think you need to look at your policy wording again - the full text, from Tesco website FAQs is:

'Your Home Insurance cover is affected if your property is unoccupied or unfurnished for 60 days or more in a row. You must tell us right away if your home is or will become unoccupied or unfurnished, particularly if you plan to leave your home to allow building works to be completed. Visits to check on your home do not count as it being occupied. Exclusions and limitations apply. For full details, see your Policy Booklet.'

Much the same as I said in my reply to your original post ... The wording, especially the final sentence re Home Visits, could not be more explicit; but it's not my buildings and contents that are at risk ...

Steve

That is not the full text of the policy wording; it is, as you have indicated, text taken from the FAQs. The text in the policy booklet is/may not be the same. (I have not downloaded the various different policy booklets to check them all.) The key is the policy booklet definition of "unoccupied"; in the policy booklet that I have looked at, the definition is: "Not lived in by you or your family for more than 60 days in a row. Visits to check on your home and / or occasional overnight stays do not constitute it being occupied."

 

[Drover]

I think you need to look at your policy wording again - the full text, from Tesco website FAQs is:

'Your Home Insurance cover is affected if your property is unoccupied or unfurnished for 60 days or more in a row. You must tell us right away if your home is or will become unoccupied or unfurnished, particularly if you plan to leave your home to allow building works to be completed. Visits to check on your home do not count as it being occupied. Exclusions and limitations apply. For full details, see your Policy Booklet.'

Much the same as I said in my reply to your original post ... The wording, especially the final sentence re Home Visits, could not be more explicit; but it's not my buildings and contents that are at risk ...

Steve

I've checked any there is no mention of your wording in ours.
I guess everyone should check their own policy..
We do not have contents cover. Ours is just the buildings..nothing else.

 

[marchie]

I've checked any there is no mention of your wording in ours.
I guess everyone should check their own policy..
We do not have contents cover. Ours is just the buildings..nothing else.

Then read the Tesco FAQs where I obtained the text from verbatim. Your cover for Unoccupancy is limited to 60 days and you must notify them if you plan being g away longer because, whilst they *may* extend the cover period, they will definitely reduce the cover for water escapes, fuel oil leaks, criminal damage/vandalism etc

It's pretty standard across all policies. But, as I say, I've checked my own policy and ensured that I am insured for 90 days absence; what you choose to do or ignore is your decision and financial risk

Steve

 

[TJBi]

Then read the Tesco FAQs where I obtained the text from verbatim. Your cover for Unoccupancy is limited to 60 days and you must notify them if you plan being g away longer because, whilst they *may* extend the cover period, they will definitely reduce the cover for water escapes, fuel oil leaks, criminal damage/vandalism etc

It's pretty standard across all policies. But, as I say, I've checked my own policy and ensured that I am insured for 90 days absence; what you choose to do or ignore is your decision and financial risk

Steve

Would you rely on ephemeral website FAQs rather than the text of the policy booklet? I wouldn't.